The string of NBA champions who skip a visit to the White House will continue – at least for now.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will not see President Biden when the team travels to Washington, DC later this month for a game against the Wizards, according to multiple reports, stating the team has not ruled out a future visit.
The league’s COVID-19 protocols and a scheduling crisis will prevent the team from visiting, ESPN and USA Today reported, as the Lakers play in Orlando on April 26 for their game in DC on April 28, followed by a long flight returned home for a game against Sacramento on April 30.
Champions of the major sports leagues usually try to visit the White House during the off-season or on a road trip through Washington during the following season.
James’ Cavaliers were the last NBA championship team to visit the White House and participate in a ceremony with Barack Obama after winning in 2016. The Golden State Warriors, after winning both in 2017 and ’18, and the Toronto Raptors in 2019 wanted do not visit President Trump in the White House. Steph Curry said in September 2017 that “we really don’t stand for what our president has – the things he said and the things he didn’t say at the right times – that we won’t stand for it.”
Trump then withdrew an offer for the Warriors to visit.
After Biden was elected in November, Warriors star Draymond Green wrote on Twitter, “Yoooo @KingJames, you can all go to the White House and celebrate your G title!”
James replied, “YO we back up there my G !!! I’ll take my tequila and vino too! “
The Lakers, who won the 2020 title in the NBA’s Orlando bubble in October, have not yet held a championship parade due to concerns about COVID-19.